@deepomega: Exactly.
Also, must mention that the wedding was the largest expense we have ever had (except our house) and it was a stretch. Don't plan on doing it again; would NEVER consider buying a car that cost as much, but as a celebration of a life event with family and friends: totally worth it. Even moreso, now that it is in the past.

Having been the mother of a bride I can tell you that there is so much that goes into arranging a wedding when you have large families, not the least of which is having to include everybody. And, as some commenters pointed out, it is hard to get a sense of what is a reasonable budget given the number of guests, type of venue etc. And, there are costs that become apparent only AFTER you have made those decisions. I learned a lot in the process and if I were to plan another wedding I would make different decisions. No regrets though.
In defense of phone bills: Some people have excellent family plans through a parents' employer at a rate they would not be able to get on their own. Doesn't every one try to save money any way they can these days?